Solid and liquid dietary dispensing system

ABSTRACT

A solid and liquid dietary dispensing system simultaneously stores and dispenses liquid and solid edible substances, while being manipulated with one hand. The system comprises a flattened tubular container defined by a container sidewall that forms a container cavity, containing a liquid edible substance. The container has a base end and a dispense end with a neck having a neck opening. Depressing the container forces the liquid edible substance through the neck opening. A cap detachably attaches to the container. The cap is defined by a continuous cap sidewall that forms a cap cavity. The cap has a discharge end and a mount end. The mount end comprises a channel that detachably mates with the neck of the container. The container cavity and the cap cavity are in fluid communication. Barriers segregates the cap cavity into compartments. A gate at discharge end of the cap regulates access to cap cavity.

BACKGROUND

The following background information may present examples of specificaspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts,or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educatethe reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to beconstrued as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof,to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.

The present invention is directed to a solid and liquid dietarydispensing system that simultaneously stores and dispenses a pluralityof nutritional edible substances in the form of both a liquid and asolid, while also enabling access to the edible substances by squeezingthe container or opening a gate in the cap.

The inventor often practices healthy living and eating habits. Theinventor especially enjoys consuming nutritional dietary edibles. Thesewere often in liquid and solid forms. However, the inventor recognizedthat it was often inconvenient to access and consume both liquid andsolid edible substances simultaneously.

The inventor was aware that there were cups and containers that heldboth liquids and solid foods. But these combination cups were used forcarrying drinks and snack foods were bulky and difficult to hold.Children were especially prone to tipping their drinks and requiresafeguards to keep liquids and snacks from spilling out on to adjacentsurfaces. Further, most cups of this nature were not designed to containhealthy, nutritious edible substances in the form of both liquid andsolid.

The inventor designed a flexible cup that could be held with one handand squeezed to discharge a liquid edible substance contained within.The inventor also added a cap to the cup. The cap had a cavity thatcontained solid edible substances.

The inventor recognized a problem in that the solid and liquid ediblesubstances would mix. The inventor added barriers throughout the cap tosegregate the cap cavity into multiple compartments, so as to provideeach solid or liquid edible component its own compartment. The inventorfinally added a hinged gate to the cap to prevent spillage.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a solid and liquid dietarydispensing system that simultaneously stores and dispenses a pluralityof nutritional edible substances in the form of both a liquid and asolid. The system segregates the solid from the liquid; and further, maysegregate multiple solids from each other, and multiple liquids fromeach other. The system is also adapted to be manipulated with one hand,so as to enable a user to access the nutritional edible substances forconsumption while performing other functions.

Food storage and delivery systems and methods have been utilized in thepast; yet none with the characteristics of the present invention. SeeU.S. Pat. Nos. 8,596,491; 8,939,312; and 20150272357.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a solid and liquid dietarydispensing system that simultaneously stores and dispenses a pluralityof nutritional edible substances in the form of both a liquid and asolid, while also enabling access to the edible substances by squeezingthe container or opening a gate in the cap.

SUMMARY

The present invention describes a solid and liquid dietary dispensingsystem that simultaneously stores and dispenses a plurality ofnutritional edible substances in the form of both a liquid and a solid.The system segregates the solid from the liquid; and further, maysegregate multiple solids from each other, and multiple liquids fromeach other. The system is also adapted to be manipulated with one hand,so as to enable a user to access the nutritional edible substances forconsumption while performing other functions, such as exercising,driving, and talking on the phone.

In one embodiment, a solid and liquid dietary dispensing systemcomprises a generally flattened tubular container. The container isgenerally elongated. The container is sized and dimensioned to be heldwith one hand. The container is defined by a container sidewall thatforms a container cavity. The container cavity may contain a liquidedible substance, having nutritional value. The container is furtherdefined by a base end and a dispense end.

The base end of the container is configured to form a foundation formaintaining the container in a generally upright position. The dispenseend of the container comprises a neck having a neck opening. Thecontainer is flexible, so as to enable depressing. Depressing along thelength of the container forces air, or the liquid edible substancethrough the neck opening.

The system further comprises a cap that detachably attaches to thecontainer. The cap is defined by a continuous cap sidewall that forms acap cavity. The cap is further defined by a discharge end and a mountend. The mount end comprises a channel that detachably mates with theneck of the container. In this manner, the container cavity and the capcavity are in fluid communication.

In some embodiments, the system may include at least one barrier that isdisposed transversely to the cap sidewall. The at least one barriersegregates the cap cavity into a plurality of compartments. Eachcompartment may contain a solid edible substance or a liquid ediblesubstance, or both. The at least one barrier seals each compartment offfrom the other, such that the edible substances are hermetically sealedin separate compartments within the cap of the container.

In another embodiment, the system comprises at least one gate. The gateis disposed at the discharge end of the cap. The gate is configured toselectively move between an open position and a closed position. Theopen position enables access to the liquid and solid edible substances.The closed position inhibits access to the liquid and solid ediblesubstances.

One objective of the present invention is to provide a dietarydispensing system that simultaneously stores and dispenses a pluralityof nutritional edible substances in the form of both a liquid and asolid.

Another objective is to provide a hand held container having a pluralityof compartments wherein at least one compartment stores a solid ediblesubstance and at least one compartment stores a liquid edible substance.

Another objective of the present invention is to depress the containerto discharge the liquid edible substance through the neck opening forconsumption.

Another objective of the present invention is to enable one-handedconsumption of both solid and liquid edible substances.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide fun andeasy access to nutritional edible substances.

Yet another objective is to inexpensively manufacture a solid and liquiddietary dispensing system.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with regard to the followingdescription, appended claims, and drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary solid and liquid dietarydispensing system;

FIG. 2 is a sectioned view of the solid and liquid dietary dispensingsystem, shown in FIG. 1, with at least one gate in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a sectioned view of the solid and liquid dietary dispensingsystem, shown in FIG. 1, with at least one gate in an open position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container and cap joined together;and

FIG. 5 is a sectioned view of the container and cap joined together.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention, referenced in FIGS. 1-5, is directed to a solidand liquid dietary dispensing system 100. The solid and liquid dietarydispensing system 100, hereafter “system 100” provides a user with thebalanced option of selecting from a nutritional liquid edible substancefrom a container 102, and a nutritional solid edible substance,delivered from a cap 116 that detachably attaches to the container 102.The solid or liquid edible substances may be hermetically sealed inseparate compartments 132 a, 132 b within both the cap 116 and thecontainer 102.

As referenced in FIG. 1, the system 100 simultaneously stores anddispenses the edible substances in the form of both a liquid and asolid. The system 100 segregates the solid from the liquid ediblesubstances; and further, may segregate multiple solids from each other,and multiple liquids from each other. The system 100 is also adapted tobe manipulated with one hand, so as to enable a user to access theliquid and solid edible substances for consumption while performingmyriad functions, such as exercising, driving, and talking on the phone.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that most combination cups forcarrying drinks and snack foods are bulky and difficult to hold.Children are especially prone to tipping their drinks and requiresafeguards to keep liquids and snacks from spilling out on to adjacentsurfaces. Further, most cups of this nature are not designed to containhealthy, nutritious edible substances in the form of both liquid andsolid.

In one embodiment, the system 100 comprises a generally flattenedtubular container 102. The container 102 is generally elongated, andsized and dimensioned to fit into one hand. The container 102 may alsohave an elongated oval shape. The container 102 may be fabricated from aplastic, such as polyurethane, silicone, or other flexible material. Thecontainer 102 is also fabricated from an anti-bacterial material.

Looking now at FIG. 2, the container 102 may be defined by a containersidewall 104 that forms a container cavity 106. The container cavity 106is configured to contain a liquid, and specifically a liquid ediblesubstance having nutritional value. In some embodiments, the liquidedible substance may include, without limitation, a health shake, afruit juice, yogurt, milk, medicine, and mineral water.

The container 102 is further defined by a base end 108 and a dispenseend 110. The base end 108 of the container 102 is configured to form afoundation for maintaining the container 102 in a generally uprightposition. As FIG. 3 illustrates, the dispense end 110 of the container102 comprises a neck 112 that extends therefrom. The neck 112 carriesthe liquid edible substance form the container cavity 106 forconsumption. A neck opening 114 forms at the terminus of the neck 112.The neck opening 114 is the only opening allowed from the container 102.The container 102 is flexible, so as to enable depressing. In oneembodiment, depressing along the length of the container 102 forces air,or the liquid edible substance, through the neck opening 114.

The system 100 further comprises a cap 116 that detachably attaches tothe container 102. The cap 116 is sized and dimensioned to substantiallymatch the length and width of the dispense end 110 of the container 102.The cap 116 is defined by a continuous cap sidewall 118 that forms a capcavity 120. The cap cavity 120 is configured to contain a solid ediblesubstance, a liquid edible substance, or both. In some embodiments, thesolid edible substance may include, without limitation, cereal, raisins,nuts, seeds, granola mix, fruit, vegetables, candy, pills, and tablets.

Turning now to FIG. 4, the cap 116 is further defined by a discharge end122 and a mount end 124. The mount end 124 detachably attaches to thedispense end 110 of the container 102 through a friction fitrelationship. In one embodiment, a seal forms between the mount end 124of the cap 116 and the dispense end 110 of the container 102. Optionallya seal such as a gasket, O-ring, flap or the like, can be deployed toaid in retention of the liquid edible substance in the container 102.

The mount end 124 of the cap 116 comprises a channel 126 that detachablymates with the neck 112 of the container 102. In one embodiment, theneck opening 114 and the channel 126 may be threaded. In this threadedadaptation, the neck opening 114 is configured to rotatably engage thechannel 126. Though in other embodiments, the channel 126 and the neck112 have a friction fit relationship. In this manner, the containercavity 106 and the cap cavity 120 are in a sealed fluid communication.

In some embodiments, the system 100 may include at least one barrier 130that is disposed transversely to the cap sidewall 118. The at least onebarrier 130 segregates the cap cavity 120 into a plurality ofcompartments 132 a, 132 b. The at least one barrier 130 seals eachcompartment 132 a, 132 b off from the other, such that the ediblesubstances are hermetically sealed in separate compartments 132 a, 132 bwithin the cap 116 of the container 102.

In one embodiment, a first barrier 130 forms a circular perimeter aroundthe neck opening 114, a second barrier 130 segregates one region of thecap cavity 120, and a third barrier 130 segregates an opposite region ofthe cap cavity 120. Though in other embodiments, any combination ornumber of compartments may be formed in the cap 116 by the barriers 130.Each compartment 132 a, 132 b may be equally sized and dimensioned, orhave different sizes, depending on the types of edible substancescontained therein.

In one embodiment, each compartment 132 a, 132 b may contain a solidedible substance, or a liquid edible substance, or both. In anotherembodiment, each compartment 132 a, 132 b contains a different solidedible substance. In this manner, the user has the option of consumingdifferent types of liquid and solid substances from the same cap 116.

As shown back in FIG. 1, the system 100 includes at least one gate 128a, 128 b. The gate 128 a, 128 b is disposed at the discharge end 122 ofthe cap 116. The gate 128 a, 128 b is configured to selectively movebetween an open position and a closed position. The open positionenables access to the liquid and solid edible substances (FIG. 1). Theclosed position inhibits access to the liquid and solid ediblesubstances (FIG. 2). In one embodiment, the gate 128 a, 128 b hingedlyattaches to the discharge end 122 of the cap 116. Though in otherembodiments, the gate 128 a, 128 b may slide between the open and closedpositions.

FIG. 5 illustrates two differently shaped gates 128 a, 128 b in an openposition at the discharge end 122 of the cap 116. A first gate iscircular 128 a and a second gate 128 b is elongated. The circular gate128 a may be more effective for accessing the liquid edible substance,while the elongated gate can be more effective for dispensing solidedible substances. In alternative embodiments, more than two gates maybe used.

While the inventor's above description contains many specificities,these should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather asan exemplification of several preferred embodiments thereof. Many othervariations are possible. For example, the compartments in the cap mayall contain a liquid edible substance, and the container may include agranule solid edible substance. Accordingly, the scope should bedetermined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appendedclaims and their legal equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A solid and liquid dietary dispensing system, thesystem comprising: a generally flattened tubular container defined by acontainer sidewall that forms a container cavity, the container furtherdefined by a base end and a dispense end, the dispense end comprising aneck having a neck opening, the container configured to be flexible,whereby depressing the flexible container forces air through the neckopening; and a cap defined by a continuous cap sidewall that forms a capcavity, the cap further defined by a discharge end and a mount endhaving a channel, the channel of the mount end configured to detachablymate with the neck of the container, whereby the container cavity andthe cap cavity are in fluid communication; at least one barrier disposedtransversely to the cap sidewall, the at least one barrier configured tosegregate the cap cavity into a plurality of compartments; and at leastone gate disposed at the discharge end of the cap, the at least one gateconfigured to selectively move between an open position and a closedposition.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the container is fabricatedfrom plastic.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the cap is fabricatedfrom plastic.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one gate isconfigured to hingedly join with the discharge end of the cap.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the neck opening and the channel arethreaded.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the neck opening isconfigured to rotatably engage the channel.
 7. The system of claim 1,wherein the container is configured to enable containment of a liquidedible substance.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the liquid ediblesubstance includes at least one member selected from the groupconsisting of: a health shake, a fruit juice, yogurt, milk, medicine,and mineral water.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality ofcompartments are configured to enable containment of a solid ediblesubstance.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the solid edible substanceincludes at least one member selected from the group consisting of:raisins, nuts, seeds, granola mix, fruit, vegetables, candy, pills, andtablets.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the solid edible substanceand the liquid edible substance are nutritional.
 12. The system of claim11, wherein each compartment is configured to contain the solid ediblesubstance or the liquid edible substance or both.
 13. The system ofclaim 12, wherein each compartment is configured to contain a differentsolid edible substance.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein eachcompartment is equally sized and dimensioned.
 15. A solid and liquiddietary dispensing system, the system comprising: a generally flattenedtubular container defined by a container sidewall that forms a containercavity, the container further defined by a base end and a dispense end,the dispense end comprising a neck having a neck opening, the containerconfigured to enable containment of a liquid edible substance, thecontainer further configured to be flexible, whereby depressing theflexible container forces the liquid edible substance through the neckopening; and a cap defined by a continuous cap sidewall that forms a capcavity, the cap further defined by a discharge end and a mount endhaving a channel, the channel of the mount end configured to detachablymate with the neck of the container, whereby the container cavity andthe cap cavity are in fluid communication; at least one barrier disposedtransversely to the cap sidewall, the at least one barrier configured tosegregate the cap cavity into a plurality of compartments, eachcompartment being equally sized and dimensioned, each compartmentconfigured to contain a solid edible substance or the liquid ediblesubstance or both; and at least one gate disposed at the discharge endof the cap, the at least one gate configured to selectively move betweenan open position and a closed position.
 16. The system of claim 15,wherein the at least one gate is configured to hingedly join with thedischarge end of the cap.
 17. The system of claim 15, wherein the neckopening and the channel are threaded.
 18. The system of claim 17,wherein the neck opening is configured to rotatably engage the channel.19. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality ofcompartments contains a solid edible substance, and at least one of theplurality of compartments contains a liquid edible substance.
 20. Asolid and liquid dietary dispensing system, the system comprising: agenerally flattened tubular container defined by a container sidewallthat forms a container cavity, the container further defined by a flatbase end and a dispense end, the dispense end comprising a neck having athreaded neck opening, the container configured to enable containment ofa liquid edible substance, the container further configured to beflexible, whereby depressing the flexible container forces the liquidedible substance through the neck opening; and a cap defined by acontinuous cap sidewall that forms a cap cavity, the cap further definedby a discharge end and a mount end having a threaded channel, thethreaded channel of the mount end configured to rotatably mate with theneck of the container, whereby the container cavity and the cap cavityare in fluid communication; at least one barrier disposed transverselyto the cap sidewall, the at least one barrier configured to segregatethe cap cavity into three compartments, each compartment being equallysized and dimensioned, each compartment is configured to contain a solidedible substance or the liquid edible substance or both; and at leastone gate disposed at the discharge end of the cap, the at least one gateconfigured to selectively move between an open position and a closedposition, the at least one gate configured to hingedly join with thedischarge end of the cap.